Improved automatic boiler-feeder



` .f `uUNITED t STATES PATENT OFFICE.

y snvroN is. HUNT, `OE NEW YORK, N. Y.

jlllvlPRovjo AUTOMATIC solI EFhFEl-:Or-:Rl

l t Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,237, `dated May 13, 1862.

To all .whom/fit may concern: t Be it known that I, SIMON B. HUNT, of the city, county, `and State of New York, have invented a certain neW and Improved AutomaticFeeder for Supplying Steam-Boilers with FeedfWater; and I do hereby declare 'that the following is a full and exact descrip- `tion ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in which-d Figure l-is la vertical and longitudinal sec- C tion of a steam-boiler and its attached feedl ing arrangement, and Fig. 2 an end view of the same. l p p t My improvement is applicable to any form or `description of boiler, and is fitted to be supplied with `Water from any desired source; but in thedrawings it is shown as applied to a stationary locomotive-boiler of ordinary construction', and as supplied with water from a city Water-Works or other source where the water'is introduced into the tank or receiver `under pressure. y t

My invention `is designed to feed water to a steam-boiler as the Water becomes lessened in quantityby being evaporated into steam, by an arrangementwhich eects that object automatically, and is regulated, governed, and operated solely by the pressure ofjsteam from- `the boiler admitted into the-@tank or receiver of the apparatusqvhen the Water in the boiler falls belovvits proper point of height.

A is a stationary boiler of l the ordinary locomotive construction.

B `is theWat-er tank or receiver for containing the supply ofwater to be `fed to to the boiler,1and Vwhich, for convenience and for the purposeof heating its contained Water, is located on thetop of the front end of t-he` boiler.` Thesupply of Water to it is introb inthe topo:` the tank B, which governs the iiowand supply of the Water from the tank to the boiler. "It is provided withastop cock or valve c, to be used under certain conditions,

. as hereinafter mentioned, to shut off the flow of steam to the tank. The aperture at the base of the dome b is provided with a valve d, to be closed by a spring when the 110W of steam through" the pipe D to the tank is. closed and shut oit by the rise of the Water in the boiler above` the mouth of the pipe, which point constitutes the proper height for the Water to be suppliedto and carried inthe boiler.`

E is a vent-pipe, having the float-valve eat itsmouth, which opens to allow the air and uncondensed vapor to escape from. the tank when the Water Within the tank has fallen in height, so as to render the float-valve a operative to admit a fresh supply of Water. The float-valve e is so formed and constructed as to be closed tightly, irrespective of its ioat, Whenever the `steam from the boiler is vadmitted into the tank through the pipe D.

F is a feed-pipe, attached to the bottom of the tank B and connected to thelower end of one of the Water-legs of the boiler. It is provided with a check-valve to prevent the Water from the boiler being thrown back into theA tank When the pressure of steam into the tank is shut OE, as before stated.

The stop cock or valve c is inserted in the pipe D to provide for the contingency of the Water in the boiler being reduced so low by blowing off or by otherimeans that a single lling of the tank Would not be sufticient to raise it to the height necessary to cover the mouth of the pipe, in which case the pressure of steam flowing through the pipe into the tank Would cause the float-valve e to remain closed and prevent the admission of the requisite supply ofvvaterto lill the tank.

In positions andlocalities Where the supply B under pressure, particularly in the case of locomotive-engines and steam ferry and other vsteam boats and vessels, the supply-pipe C and the vent-pipe E and their attached valves would be dispensed With, and the Water for the tank Would be introduced into it through an aperture secured by a packed cover, the

cover being taken off to allow the Water to be p introduced, and secured in place when the tank Was properly lled.

The steam-pipe D is connected to the boiler,

so vthat the Water inthe boiler when at proper height shall cover and close its mouth and of water cannot be introduced into the tank shut oi the iioW of steam through it to the tank B. This constitutes the governingprinciple of the arrangement by which the Water in the boiler is preserved unerringly and automatically at that precise height, provided a proper Supply of Water is kept in the tank B, as the fall of Water in the boilerbeloW that point-tliat is, below the mouth of the pipe or a limited portion thereof-allows the steam to pass into the tank to force the water from it into the boiler until the supply of steam is shut oi`1e by the Water attaining its proper height.

The tank B may be placed inany desired position, it not being necessary to place it 

